American Legion Boys Nation 2009 Session

Welcome to the 2009 American Legion Boys Nation webpage. American Legion Boys Nation is a week-long citizenship and government program in the nation's capital that is designed to instill in each participant a deep loyalty to America while providing practical insight into the function and operation of our federal government.

American Legion Boys Nation began in 1946. It was first called American Legion Boys Forum of National Government, and was held on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. In 1949, the name was changed to American Legion Boys Nation. American Legion Boys Nation is comprised of 98 delegates from across the nation, who are referred to as Boys Nation “senators”. Boys Nation senators are high school students who have completed their junior year and are selected from American Legion Boys State programs that take place in 49 states. Hawaii does not have a Boys State program.

The Boys Nation senators are organized into political parties that develop party platforms and nominate candidates for elective office, culminating in the election of a Boys Nation President and Vice-President. Boys Nation senators caucus, participate in senate sessions, organize into committees and conduct hearings on legislative bills they themselves have drafted and submitted for consideration. Boys Nation senators are instructed on the proper method of handling bills according to the rules and procedures of the U.S. Senate. The week of government training combines lectures and forums along with field trips to federal agencies, institutions, memorials and historical sites in and around the Washington D.C. area.

The 2009 program will begin as delegates arrive on Friday, July 17 and will conclude on Saturday, July 25. Delegates and staff are housed on the campus of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.

The buttons to the left will take you to each day's activities once the information is available.

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Friday, July 17, 2009

• Delegates arrive at Marymount University
• Section Meetings
• Political Party Receptions and Ice Cream Social

• Assembly and General Orientation
• Assembly Speaker: Steve Robertson, American Legion Legislative Director
• Legislative Assembly and Orientation
• Party Conventions
• Senate Committees
• First Boys Nation Senate Session
• Senate Committees

• Boys Nation Memorial Service
• Boys Nation Senate Session
• Party Conventions
• “Legion Night” dinner and program at Greenbelt Legion Post #136 with keynote speaker: National Commander of The American Legion David Rehbein
• Tour of National Mall – Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial Wall, Korean War Memorial

• Visit Arlington National Cemetery -Presentation of Wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
• Party Conventions

• Visit Iwo Jima Memorial
• Visit Supreme Court – Featured Speaker: Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court General William Suter
• Boys Nation Senate Session
• Candidate Debates
• Assembly Speaker: Mike Leiter, Director, National Counterterrorism Center
• Boys Nation Elections

• Inauguration of Boys Nation President and Vice-President presided by the Hon. Alan Lance
• Boys Nation Senate Session
• Visit to U.S. Department of State or White House
• Dinner with American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation senators
• Boys Nation Senate Session

• Visit to Capitol Hill for appointments with U.S. Senators
• Assembly Speaker - Nesse Godin, Holocaust Survivor
• Senate Committees

• Boys Nation Senate Session
• Visit U.S. Department of State or White House
• Visit WWII Memorial
• Graduation Dinner & Assembly

• Depart for home